Child&#39;s convertible rocker and vehicle



March 27,1934. R. w. SLEE 1,952,467 CHILDS CONVERTIBLE Rockmmn vmucma Filed Sept. 1'. 1932. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ifo eff Q/A57 2 R. W. SLEE CHILDS CONVERTIBLE R OCKE R AND VEHICLE March 27, 1934.

Filed Sept. 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inv en or Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNI'TEDUSTATESI camp's coma'rmna nocmia AND VEHICLE Robert w. Slee, Three Rivers, Mich.

Application September 1, 1932, Serial No. 631,361

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved child's convertible rocker and vehicle, and more particularly to the combination with a rocker unit adapted for use in the nursery, of a plurality of easilyattachable and detachable units whereby the rocker unit may be alternatively supported to serve as a carriage or go-cart, a sleigh or a swing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved convertible rockeror vehicle 0 such as briefly described .hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved, nursery rocker composed of a few simple elements which may be packed in a small space or quickly assembled to form a firm, substantial and attractive rocker unit.

Another object is to provide in combination with the rocker unit as above described an at- 2 tachable sled unit adapted to be easily hung up out of the way when not in use or to be quickly and easily attached to the rocker member to support the same and form a sleigh.

Another object is to provide in combination with the improved rocker unit a detachable carriage unit adapted to be hung up out of the way when not in use or to be quickly and easily attached to the rocker unit to support the same and form a go-cart or similar wheeled vehicle.

Another object is to provide in combination with the improved rocker unit a swing mechanism adapted to be easily and quickly attached to the rocker unit to suspend the same and form a swing suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carriageunit when detached from the rocker member.

unit.

Fig. 7" is an enlarged detail perspective view is suspended from the swing ropes.

Other objects and advantages of this improved Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the detached sled of one of the eyelets by means of which the rocker Fig. Bis a longitudinal vertical section throng the rocker unit when assembled with the carriage unit to form a go-cart.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 (the carriage unit being omitted).

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the upper rear corner. portions of the rocker unit. as

Fig. 11 is an inverted'detail section, taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 12 and 13 show modified forms of rocker unit and the handle, respectively.

The entire device comprises a rocker unit A which is used alone to form a rocker or chair for use inthe nursery or other suitable location, and a carriage unit B, a sled unit C, and swing units D which are adapted for alternative use with the primary unit A to form a go-cart, a sleigh or a swing, respectively.

The primary unit A comprises a pair of similar side members 1 preferably formed of laminated wood. These side members 1 are curved at their lower edges to form supporting rocker surfaces 0 2 which round. upwardly to the comparatively narrow front end portions 3. The central and rear portions 4 of the side members are of suflicient height to serve as side arm rests or closures for the respective sides of the seat or chair. The 35 upper and rear edge portions of the side members the .1 are given any desired attractive contour.

Three rather long bolts or tie-rods 5, 6 and '7 extend between the side members 1 and through v suitable holes provided'therefor in the side mem- 9Q bers, the respective ends of the tie-rods being threaded to receive nuts, preferably thumb nuts 8, threaded on the outer ends thereof. A' sheet metal member which serves as a floor 9 and rear kick-plate 10 is looped at its respective ends 11 5 and 12 to encircle the tie rods 5 and 6, respectively. The greater portion of the side edges of floor plate 9 are provided with extension side flanges 13 which engage in curved grooves 14 formed in the opposed inner sides of the members 1. Preferably the rear kick-plate portion 10 of the floor member is not provided with these side flanges 13,. and the grooves 14 in the side members are of somewhat greater length than the flanges 13 so that the sheet metal member and side membars can easily adjust themselves when assembled. A seat member 15 and a back member 16 (preferably made of wood) are hinged together at 17 so that they may be folded together in a compact assembly for shipping purposes.. The a lower surface of seat is transversely grooved at 18 to fit over the tie-rod 6 and the looped end '12 of the seat metal member, and the rear edge 19 of the seat 15 rests on the tie rod 7. The lower portion of back member. 16 is extended downwardly at 20 to abut against the rear edge of the seat member, and is transversely grooved at 21, beneath the seat member, to engage the tie rod '7. The screw eyes 22 or equivalent devices are secured in the respective side edges of the back member 16 andare received from above in open slots 23 formed in the upper rear edge portions of the side members 1.

In order to erect the knocked down elements of this rocker unit A, the floor, seat and back members and the tie rods 5, 6 and 7 are assembled in an obvious manner between the two side 'members 1, and by tightening the thumb nuts 8 on the several end portions of the tie rods, the assembly is securely and firmly clamped together. A tie-in cord 24 is provided at one end with a snap fastener 25 for detachable engagement with one of the eyes 22, and the opposite end of this cord 24 is tied or otherwise secured, as at 26, to the other eye 22 so as to properly adjust the length of this cord which holds the child safely within the rocker member.

A pair of short upwardly extending slots 27 are formed at opposite locations in the lower edges of the two side members 1. These slots are utilized for the attachment of the carriage unit B and sled unit C, as hereinafter described. To insure against accidental disengagement the slots 27 may be made angular asshown in Fig. 12. Washer members 28 formed with upwardly and outwardly extending eyes 29 are mounted on the respective ends of tie rods 5 and '7 between the thumb nuts 8 and the outer faces of side members 1. These eyes are utilized for the attachment of the swing members D, as hereinafter the rocker unit-A may remain permanently in this form, there being no occasion for disturbing the thumb nuts 8 or otherwise loosening the assembled parts in order to convert the rocker member into a carriage, a. sleigh or a swing, as hereinafter described.

The carriage unit B (see Figs. 2,5, 8 and 11) comprises an axle 30 on the end portions of which are rotatably mounted wheels 31 which may be held in place by detachable hub caps 32 and cotter pins 33. The wheels may be provided with rubber tires, shown at 34. A handle member 35, preferably made of wood, has a curved lower portion 36, the lower end 37 of which is detachably secured to the central portion of axle 30, by means of a bolt 38, the hooked upper end of which clamps over the axle 30, the threaded straight end extending through the handle and receiving the thumb nut 39, by means of which the parts are clamped together. The handle portion extends upwardly a suitable distance and may be provided adjacent its upper end with the usual cross-pin 40. The handle may be provided adjacent its upper end with a hole or opening 41 so that the carriage unit B may be hung up or suspended when not in use from-any suitable nail or hook, such as 42, mounted in a wall indicated at 43. In order that the handle may be folded for convenience in shipping or storing, it may bemade in-two sections overlapped at 44 and hinged together at 45. When the sections are moved into alignment, the overlapped portions are secured together by means of the bolt and thumb nut indicated at 46.

In order to assemble the go-cart, the rocker unit A is placed over the carriage unit B so that the axle 30 is received in the slots 27 of the side members 1. The curved portion 36 of handle 35 will now extend upwardly and rearwardly and will be received in a notch 4'7 provided in the lower edge of the back member 16. A hook 48 pivotally mounted on the front side of handle 35 is now engaged with an eye 49 secured in the rear face of back member 16 and the parts are securely locked together as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The go-cart is then manipulated in the usual manner by means of handle 35. Upon returning to the nursery, the parts are disassembled by simply unhooking the hook 48 from eye 49 and lifting the rocker unit A off from the carriage unit B. The carriage unit may then be hung up out of the way, as shown in Fig. 5.

The sled unit 0 (see Figs. 3 and 6) comprises a pair of similar runners 50 which may be conveniently made of wood and are formed with rather long flat runner surfaces 51 ontheir lower edges and with upwardly curved front ends 52 to which the end portions of the looped drawing rope 53 are connected in any suitable manner, for example, by looping the ends of the rope through openings 54 and clamping the rope ends at 55. The opposed inner sides of the two members 50 are recessed, as indicated at 56, the lower edge of this recess being curved to correspond to a portion of the bottom surface 2 of a side member 1 of therocker. A cross-rod 5'7 extends between the two runners 50 and through openings in the upwardly extending side portions 58 thereof, and thumb nuts 59 are threaded on the end portions of the rod. In order to assemble the sleigh, the rocker unit A is placed upon the sled unit C so that the side members 1 of the rocker will rest in the recesses 56 of the runners 50 with the slots 27 fitting over crossrod 57. By merely tightening the thumb nuts 59 the assembly is firmly clamped together. The sleigh then appears as shown in Fig. 3 and may be drawn about by means of the rope loop 53. The rocker unit A may be-lifted out of the sled unit by merely loosening the thumb nuts 59, and when not in use, the sled unit C may be hung up out of the way, by means of the rope loop 53.

Each of the auxiliary swing devices D consists of a rope mechanism of inverted Y-shape comprising a main upper rope 60 adapted'to be suspended from any suitable supporting means, and the lower branch arms 61, to the lower end of each of which is secured a snap fastener 62. By merely snapping these fasteners 62 into engagement with the eyes 29 fixed to the respective ends of tie rods 5 and 7, the-rocker unit A may be suspended, as indicated in Fig. 4, to form the swing. It will be noted that the attaching parts for the swing ropes are so disposed as to form a balanced structure.

This combination vehicle is especially designed for'the use of small children or babies, and the primary unit A is substantially and ,rigidly constructed and designed to support and confine the child in a comfortable and safe position. It will be apparent that this primary unit A is not al- 2. tered in any manner, and the child is supported in the same position, in all of various uses to which the apparatus is adapted. The main unit A may always be used by itself as a rocker or chair, at which times the several auxiliary units 11 3,0 and 'D, or any of them,-can be hung in a closet or other storage space soas not to encumber or interfere with the main rocker unit.

' The rocker may be quickly and easily assembled.

6 with any one of these auxiliary elements so as tomay be knocked down andfolded together as first form a go-cart, a sleigh or a swing, as may be desired.

It will be apparent that all parts of this apparatus can be packed in a very small compass for shipping or storage purposes. The main unit A described hereinabove. The carriage unit 13 may be disassembled and packed by removing the wheels 31 from axle and the axle may be rethe adjustable thumb nut furnished onend of the rod only. However, the construction herein shown and described is more convenient and is preferable. The claims which follow are intended to cover either equivalent construction.

Fig. 13 shows a modified handle 63, the lower section of which is bifurcated at 64 and 65 and formed with notches 66 and 6'! adapted to engage the axle 30. The handle 63 is clamped to the axle 30 by suitable means such as a hook 68 extending through the handle 63 and receiving a thumb nut 69. The two sections of the handle 63 overlap and are hinged together at 70. when the sections are moved into alignment, the overlapped portions are secured together by means of the bolt and thumb nuts indicated at 71 and '72. When it is desired to have the handle 63 project upwardly as shown in Fig. 13 the clamping action of bolts and thumb nuts '71 and '12 serve to hold thehandle in the position shown.

I claim:

1. A nursery rocker comprising a pair of similar side members curved on their lower supporting edges; a floor member; aseat member and a back member shaped to fit between the side members, the side members being recessed to receive extensions on certain of the intermediate members, tie-rods extending through the side members and having threaded end portions, nuts on the ends of the tie-rods for clamping the side members against the interposed floor, seat and back members, washers positioned on certain of the rods between the nuts and side members, the washers. being formed with laterally extending eye members, removable swing ropes, and snapfasteners at the lower ends of the ropesfor engagement with the eyes.

2. A nursery rocker comprising a pair of similar side rocker members curved on their lower supporting edges, a plurality of tie rods having threaded end portions extending transversely through and between the sides members, a'suitably curved sheet-metal -floor member formed with loops at its ends to encircle two of the rods, the inner sides of the side members being grooved to receive portions of the edges of the metal fioor member, a seat members adapted to rest on two of the rods, a back member secured to the seat and extending upwardly, there being apertures in theupper portions of the side members,- securing means extending from the back through these apertures, and nuts on the threaded ends of the tie-rods whereby the fioor, seat and back are clamped firmly between the side members. I

3. A nursery rocker comprising a pair of similar side rocker members curved on their lower supporting edges, a plurality of tie-rods having threaded end portions "extending transversely through and between the side members, asuitably curved sheet-metal fioor'member formed with loops at its ends to encircle two of the rods, the inner sides of the side members being grooved to receive portions of the edges of the metal floor member, a seatmember adapted to rest on two of the rods, a back member hinged to the seat and extending upwardly, there being apertures in the upper portion of the side members, securing means extending from the back through these apertures, and nuts on the threaded ends of the tie-rods whereby the floor, seat andback are clamped firmly between the side members.

4. A nursery rocker comprising a pair of similar side rocker members curved on their lower supporting edges, a plurality of tie-rods having threaded end portions extending transversely through and between the side members, a suitably curved sheet-metal floor member formed with loops at its ends to encircle two of the rods, the inner sides of the side members being grooved to, receive portions of the edges of the metal floor. member, a seat member adapted to rest on two of the rods, a back member secured to the seat and extending upwardly, there being slots in the upper edges of the side members, screweyes secured to the sideedges of the back and received in the slots, nuts on the threaded ends of the tie-rods for clamping the floor, seat and back firmly between the side members, a tie-in cord having one end adjustably secured'to one screw-eye, and a snap fastener on the other end 1 of the cord for engaging the other eye. 1

' 5. A nursery rocker comprising a pair of similar side rocker memberscurved on their lower supporting edges and having upwardly curved forward extensions, three tie-rods having threaded end portions extending transversely through and ,between the side members, one rod extending through the upwardly curved-end portions of the side members, a second rod extending through the. sides at a position substantially centrally of the length and height thereof, and a third rod being located substantially. on a level with the second rod but adjacent the rear-ends of the side members, a curved sheet metal floor member formed with looped end portions adapted to encircle the first and second rods, the side members being grooved on their inner faces ad- Jacent the bottom thereof to receive portions of the side edges of the fioor member, the rear portion of the floor member extending upwardly 185 to the second rod,'a seat member and a back member secured together, the seat member resting on the second and third rods and bein grooved on its bottom to fit over the second rod. the upper edge portions of the side members being slotted, eyelet members extending outwardly from the side edges of the back member and received in these slots, and nuts on the threaded 'ends of the tie-rods for clamping tlie floor, seat and between the side members, one rod extending through the upwardly curved end portions of the side members, a second rod extending through the sides at a position substantially centrally of the length and height thereof, and a third rod being located substantially on a level with the second rod but adjacent the rear ends of the side members, a curved sheet metal floor member formed with looped end portions adapted to encircle the first and second rods, the side members being grooved on their inner faces adjacent the bottom thereof to receive portions of the side edges of the floor member, the rear portion of the floor member extending upwardly to the second rod, a seat member and a back member hinged to the rear edge thereof, the seat member resting on the second and third rods and being grooved in its bottom to fit over the second rod, the lower portion of the back extending below the hinged connection with the seat and being grooved to engage the third red, the upper edge portions of the side members being slotted, eyelet members extending outwardly from the side edges of the back member and received in these slots, and nuts on the threaded ends of the tierods for clamping the floor, seat and back between the side members.

7. A childs convertible vehicle consisting of a rocker unit comprising side members curved on their lower supporting edges and a seat assembly secured between the side members, there being a short upwardly extending slot in the lower edge of each side member at locations opposite one of the rocker, a tie-rod having threaded ends-exeanne? tending through and between the runner members, said rod being received in the slots in the side members, and nuts on the ends of the rod for clamping the runners in engagement with theside members.

8. A child's convertible vehicle consisting of a rocker unit comprising side members curved on their lower supporting edges, and a seat assembly secured between the side members, there being a short upwardly extending slot inthe lower edge of each side member at locations opposite one another, and a carriage unit comprising an axle adapted to be'received from below in the slots of the side members, a pair of wheels one secured rocker unit comprising side members curved on their lower supporting edges, and a seat assembly secured between the side members, there being a short upwardly extending slot in the lower edge of each side member at locations opposite one another, a carriage unit comprising an axle adapted to be received from below in the slots of the side members, a pair of wheels one secured rotatably to each end of the axle, a handle member secured at its lowerend to the central portion of the axle and formed to extend around the lower rear portion of the seat assembly, andhook and eye members, one secured to an intermediate portion of the handle and the other to the rear portion of the seat assembly.

. ROBERT W. SLEE. 

